The worst has happened: MS removing GroupPolicy settings for Win10pro

[hhhd1]

The worst thing about windows 10, is not only its privacy options, but for microsoft to change privacy settings and reducing your control over your PC over time, which their license allow them to do.

http://winaero.com/blog/microsoft-l...se-editions-in-windows-10-anniversary-update/

Quote:

Today, we surprisingly discovered that Microsoft has secretly changed the availability of some Group Policy options in Windows 10 version 1607. Windows 10 version 1607 "Anniversary Update" has reduced the control via Group Policy that you have in Pro edition. Pro edition users have lesser options available compared to version 1511, so many behaviors of the OS cannot be controlled.

Example:

"Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences"
Using this option, you could prevent Windows 10 from automatically downloading and installing promoted apps like Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipper, Twitter, NetFlix, Pandora, MSN News and many other potentially unwanted apps and games. Now you can't prevent these apps from being automatically downloaded and installed if you are using Windows 10 Pro or Home editions. The policy setting (or Registry setting) has no effect in these editions.

 

[master_shake_]

control is merely an illusion.

sadly even the PRO version...

i guess pro means pro home user.

 

[Grooveriding]

When I heard about this new update the first thought I had is, what are they going to do to try and circumvent and counteract the measures users are taking to disable the spyware in Windows 10 ? Microsoft did not disappoint.

I just did a full OS reinstall as well, what a waste of time. I really wish gaming on Linux would get up to speed. Hopefully Vulkan can make a big impact and I can get away from using Windows for good. I already use Linux for our HTPC and file server, but can't get off the platform for gaming.

Guess I will be looking into how I can switch to the enterprise version of Win 10 from my current pro version...

 

[Elixer]

Example:

"Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences"
Using this option, you could prevent Windows 10 from automatically downloading and installing promoted apps like Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipper, Twitter, NetFlix, Pandora, MSN News and many other potentially unwanted apps and games. Now you can't prevent these apps from being automatically downloaded and installed if you are using Windows 10 Pro or Home editions. The policy setting (or Registry setting) has no effect in these editions.

Not quite true. Yes, the group policy change is BS, however, registry edits still work.

Q: Why does the lock screen show me crap that I don't want?
A: You must be mistaken, that is a really cool feature!
But, if you don't want them, then just do this:
Settings > Personalization > Lock screen
Select a picture and disable Get fun facts, tips and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen

Q: Why does the start menu show me crap that I don't want?
A: Oh come on, everyone wants recommendations, suggestions, tips and more shown there!
But, if you don't want them, then time to get out registry editor and do this for each account.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager]
"OemPreInstalledAppsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"PreInstalledAppsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"SoftLandingEnabled"=dword:00000000
"SystemPaneSuggestionsEnabled"=dword:00000000

 

[JimmiG]

Not quite true. Yes, the group policy change is BS, however, registry edits still work.

Still, if a company uses Win10 Pro, someone from IT will have to walk up to every computer and do the regedit since the GPO doesn't work any more. The whole point of the "Pro" version is that it's meant for corporate and professional users, who rely on group policies for controlling what employees can and can't do on their work computers. Sure there's an enterprise version, but plenty of companies opt for the Pro version. Guess they should rename it Windows 10 Prosumer Edition, featuring Candy Crush.

 

[Elixer]

Still, if a company uses Win10 Pro, someone from IT will have to walk up to every computer and do the regedit since the GPO doesn't work any more. The whole point of the "Pro" version is that it's meant for corporate and professional users, who rely on group policies for controlling what employees can and can't do on their work computers. Sure there's an enterprise version, but plenty of companies opt for the Pro version. Guess they should rename it Windows 10 Prosumer Edition, featuring Candy Crush.

I fully agree with you, they should not do that for the Pro version, it is a pure $$$ grab forcing companies to use the Enterprise Edition.

 

[Craig234]

They shouldn't even do it to the home version. Users should decide what to download.

 

[twjr]

Not particularly pleased with any of the changes in this update. I don't use Edge, Cortana, Xbox and they removed the ability to disable to lock screen AND they are forcing even more useless apps onto my computer which I will have to delete again using Powershell.

 

[tidy]

.

 

[Scooby Doo]

It looks like they're also going to be blocking unsigned kernel drivers too. Fun fun fun...

 

[Elixer]

It looks like they're also going to be blocking unsigned kernel drivers too. Fun fun fun...

That can be disabled via BIOS option. It is there for security.

 

[Scooby Doo]

That can be disabled via BIOS option. It is there for security.

Yes, just disable Secure Boot.... for now.

 

[yinan]

If you have an Enterprise and have AD, then you should be running the Enterprise edition. Doesn't seem like a hard one to me.

 

[maevinj]

I think this is the start of phasing out the Pro version of Windows. I'm looking into getting enterprise licenses now for my business. I don't need my employees playing candy crush all day on their computers.

 

[TeknoBug]

Well the advantage of Pro over Home is bitlocker, encryption is a big deal for a lot of us. But other than that, there's really not much of a difference unless you're into Hypervisor (doesn't matter to me since I mainly use Linux as host and Windows as guest via qemu).

 

[PingSpike]

Enterprise version is for customers large enough that their complaining can't easily be ignored. Everyone else (home users on up to medium size businesses) goes in the beta-tester, advertising revenue and data collection revenue generation bucket.

Anyway, updates are locked on in those versions so we'll see what new exciting changes the next version brings...whether you like it or not!

 

[superstition]

Bait and switch.

Taking functionality away from a product after it has been sold and advertised as having said functionality.

Bait and switch is fraud. So, are people going to let Microsoft defraud them?

http://www.ghacks.net/2016/07/28/microsoft-removes-policies-windows-10-pro/

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow you have got to be kidding me.

I'm so glad I'm not in IT and don't have to deal with Windows anymore. It just gets worse and worse.

I see what MS is doing though, they basically want Windows 10 to be a service - everyone has been saying this so it's not really a new revelation, but this kind of paves the way. It's "your" computer running it, but it's their software, and they will control it 100%.

It's really too bad there arn't any turn key Linux OSes geared towards business as I could see businesses seriously consider it. But Linux kinda lacks as far as central management etc. You can cobble stuff together with stuff like openldap but it's far from turn key.

 

[ControlD]

Management isn't the issue with Linux for the business user. Software availability is the issue. The same thing is true with OS X. Most business software runs on Windows or Windows. I don't see that changing for a long time, if ever.

That being said, I moved to Linux on my home systems not long after Win10 came out and I haven't missed Windows one bit. I don't hate Windows, but Linux does everything I need and surprisingly lots of things better. I still keep my system dual boot for the occasional game, but even in that area I have found Linux to be quite capable.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah depends on the business too I imagine, some may be easier to switch than others, depends on how specialized the software is. I can't see an AutoCAD shop switch to Linux for example. Suppose you could Citrix it, but how baddly will that affect the performance. Once you start getting into VMs, then it kinda defeats the purpose too. May as well stay on Windows.

 

[escrow4]

Linux still blows on the desktop with drivers and just like Android its a fragmented mess. Everything works well on Windows; at its core Windows is still Windows. I use Linux on a server and I wouldn't want to struggle with it on a desktop. I've used Windows 8, 8.1 and now 10 since Day 1 without going back to Linux and this won't change. There is no cohesive well supported OS like Windows in general use that works well as an all-rounder. No matter how much you moan about it.

 

[mv2devnull]

Linux/Android/Sierra has nothing to do with MS changing feature set of MS product.

Would you pay a premium for a better-than-average car and next week the salesman comes buy, removes wheels, and tells that you don't need them at that (or any) price?

 

[postmortemIA]

Looks like it is going to be save-the-date

Windows 7 Extended support ends on January 14, 2020.

I don't see how I can completely give up on Windows 7 until 2020. Probably I will keep my rig years beyond I've planned originally (less likely to find drivers for Windows 7 for cutting edge hardware).

 

[Red Squirrel]

Windows 7 probably going to be like XP, they'll just keep extending the date and trying so hard to get people off. Businesses who just finished upgrading to 7 are probably not going to want to deal with that again for a while.

 

[XavierMace]

Still, if a company uses Win10 Pro, someone from IT will have to walk up to every computer and do the regedit since the GPO doesn't work any more.

False. You can push out registry changes as well.